The Hofstra community is deeply saddened by the passing of Arnold A. Saltzman, 97, trustee emeritus of the Hofstra University Board of Trustees, on January 2, 2014.

“Ambassador Saltzman was a compassionate and principled leader who dedicated his life to public service, philanthropy and education. He was an intellect who focused both on peace in our world and service to community,” said Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz. “His and his wife Joan’s commitment to Hofstra, and to creating programs that served the community as well as our students, set an extraordinary example for everyone who had the honor and privilege to know and work with them.”

Ambassador Saltzman, a noted businessman and diplomat, served five American presidents in a wide range of policy-level diplomatic and economic assignments; he received a Presidential Commendation for his efforts on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Ambassador Saltzman carried out diplomatic assignments in former Czechoslovakia, the former Soviet Union, South America, Central America, and Austria.

He and Mrs. Saltzman have a long history with Hofstra University, as benefactors and trusted advisors. Ambassador Saltzman served on Hofstra’s Board of Trustees from April 1987 until October 1994, and he was elected Trustee Emeritus in October 1994. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hofstra in 1986.

In 1991 Ambassador and Mrs. Saltzman founded the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center, a multidisciplinary clinical service center that provides low cost, cutting-edge therapies to the public and unique research and training opportunities to students. The Center unites the talents and capabilities of separate organizations at the University – the Diane Lindner Goldberg Child Care Institute, the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, the Psychological Evaluation Research and Counseling (PERC) Clinic, the Reading/Writing/Learning Clinic and the Speech Language Hearing. The Saltzman Center was one of the first facilities of its kind and stands as a tribute to the Saltzmans’ commitment to public service and the advancement of higher education.

Ambassador Saltzman also conceived of and funded Hofstra’s State of the Union Lecture, which has presented distinguished speakers, such as Donna Brazile, Howard Dean, David Gergen and George Mitchell, to discuss America’s political landscape.

In tribute to the memory of Ambassador Saltzman, all Hofstra University flags were lowered to half staff.